Active Learning for Active Disciples

If you were to teach someone how to drive, how would you do it?

If we desire discipleship to result in whole disciples actively working out the image of Christ, then our teaching needs to be active, working out the example of Christ to one another.

The goal: Active Disciples - Ephesians 3:14 - 4:32

Teaching and knowledge give way to maturity that walks.

Teaching -> Maturity -> Walking (triangle)

Ephesians 3:14–4:2 NASB95

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. 1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,

Ephesians 4:11–17 NASB95

11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. 17 So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,

Ephesians 4:20–25 NASB95

20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. 25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.

...

Ephesians 4:32 NASB95

32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

The goal of this understanding, the renewal of our minds through teaching, the knowledge of the son of God, the teaching which we receive for our maturity - the goal is walking in the image of Christ. Discipleship isn’t interested in a theoretical understanding of godliness. It’s entire purpose is real active godliness being worked out.

How do we connect the dots? Practically speaking, how do we help one another to move our understanding and maturity toward being active disciples?

The means: Active teaching and learning (“Follow me”)

Matthew 4:18–22 NASB95

18 Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 21 Going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

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Following is not passive. Following is active.

Following does receive. The disciples are taught along the way, but they’re also participants in the work of ministry.

If you step back and look at the whole of the book of Matthew there are five major teachings sections. Five discourses where Jesus is doing a lot of teaching.

But in between all of those teaching sections is narrative where Jesus is doing ministry or Jesus is discussing with his disciples, Jesus is talking with the Pharisees, Jesus is sending out his own disciples and involving them in his ministry.

If we fast forward to the end and the Great Commission the disciples have a lot of teaching to look back on, but not just sermon notes from Jesus’ preaching and lectures. They’ve done everything with him. They’ve seen His example. They’ve discussed hard things with Him. They’ve been rebuked. They’ve been through storms together. They’ve even performed miracles themselves by the power of the Spirit. They’ve ultimately witnessed his death and resurrection.

The point here being, Jesus recognized the need for teaching, the need for the classroom if you will, but he went further than that. He taught and equipped his disciples by being an example to them and doing ministry with them!

Teaching includes:

The lecture, discussion, example, delegation

This doesn’t stop at Jesus however. We see this same paradigm in Paul’s ministry. Very often in his letters he refers to the time that he was with them or that he plans to come to them. The churches have letter from Paul in the mail, but very often they have his example and Paul refers to it in his letters.

1 Corinthians 11:1 NASB95

1 Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.

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Philippians 4:9 NASB95

9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

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When Paul writes to Timothy to encourage him in his ministry he calls back to what Paul has taught Him but also call him to join him.

2 Timothy 2:1–3 NASB95

1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

You’ll notice that Paul’s discipleship with Timothy has in view that third and fourth generation. Who are you going to teach? He has that same perspective with the church in Thessalonica.

1 Thessalonians 1:6–7 NASB95

6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

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The active teaching and learning of Paul to the church in Thessalonica as an example to them has equipped them to be active disciples such that they too can be an example to the believers around them.

Paul’s work of ministry is most fundamentally the preservation and advancement of the Scriptures. That’s our work as well, but it’s also the advancement of the example of Christ. Calling fellow believers to walk in the footsteps of Christ, join him in ministry, and go on to set an example for others.

Let’s close our time with some application. How do we be active teachers and active learners in this work of discipleship.

I want to look at three spaces in which we do discipleship.

"Follow Me” in the Worship Service

As we’ve already established, discipleship begins in the gathering.

We might not think that our worship service has a whole lot of following to it, we’re not really going anywhere, but I’d like to highlight a few.

On Sunday morning we as elders teach the congregation how to pray. It might be subtle, but that simple invitation I give at the end sermon, “Let’s pray.” is a “follow me” of sorts.

We teach the congregation what confession is, but also how to confess when we pray together.

We teach the congregation what’s in the Bible but also how to read it in the preaching as we look to Scripture together.

We teach the congregation what worship is, but also how to worship as we sing together.

Because what we do on Sunday morning is a corporate activity, something we do together, we can accomplish a great degree of discipleship here just in following the leadership that’s ingrained in the service.

“Follow Me” in the Classroom

As I teach in the classroom my hope is to engage in dialogue. Jesus continually engages his disciples in dialogue after he teaches. When we dialogue nobody get’s left behind. We can address difficult things, and we all participate in advancing the argument that’s on the table. We can even challenge the arguments on the table, “What about this?” I hope that’s welcome as well.

Here’s a new one… What about pre-class work? Would you follow me in preparing for next weeks class? It’s not homework. It’s pre-class work. By way of application I’d like to provide an opportunity for you to join me in preparation for next week. It’s not required. You’re not being graded. I want call you out if you don’t do it, but for those who do you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to the conversation at the front end that much more.

Here’s your pre-class work for next week if you’d like to participate. Let’s start simple.

Using two supporting passages make an argument for the sufficiency of Scripture in the work of discipleship. Maybe like 4 to 6 sentences. E.C. for a passage used appropriately that no one else has used.

“Follow Me” in ‘Smaller’ Groups

When I first moved to Louisville I joined a men’s Bible study that was lead by a brother who had three daughters at the time, now he has four. Every week he would have us all over to his house. Some evenings had a little more peace and quiet. Other times he had to leave the room a little more often. Just in having us over to his house he was showing all of us bachelors what a godly marriage looked like. He showed us what Christian hospitality looked like. He was showing us what it meant to be a dad. There wasn’t a formal, “follow me and I will make you into something...” , but he did set an extraordinary example for us.

Doing normal life with younger believers is an extraordinary way to set an example.

It’s that life together that leads to deeper discipleship.

Hey will you read this book with me?

Will you do this ministry at church with me?

Will you help me care for this church member?